We at Independent Liverpool love only one thing more than sharing our experience of our city’s most captivating places with you, and that’s enjoying them ourselves first.
If you’ve already found your way to this page we needn’t spend too much time explaining what it is that we love about independent businesses. We know that the pleasure of finding somewhere special, that niche place that provides something nowhere else does, is something that is shared by all our readers. If it’s exquisite traditional Italian food that you’ve been hoping to discover, then it is with pleasure that we present to you The Italian Club.
The Italian Club, which sits snugly towards the top of Bold Street, is one of the most charismatic eateries our city has to offer. In contrast to the typical British take on the Italian restaurant – that of checkered tablecloths, spaghetti bolognaise and a saturation of the Italian tricolour – the Club presents an understated authenticity. Its decor strikes a delicate balance between elegance and simplicity. Its high ceilings are adorned with gorgeous light fixtures ,the walls are graced with an artful selection of maps, photographs and paintings. The inside is bright and spacious and complemented by an outside seating area – unique on Bold street.
Upon entering the deli-restaurant you are presented with an attractive display of Italian biscuits, dried pasta, olive oil and coffee. Grilled vegetables are visible behind the counter and an alluring selection of wine sits above it, teasing your taste-buds before you’ve taken a seat. The visual parade of food and drink was well matched by the dining experience that followed .
To start, we both had the bruschetta valter, a serving of toasted bread beneath fresh cherry tomatoes and delectably creamy goats cheese drizzled with olive oil, garlic and basil – a reminder that simple dishes executed finely are often the best – alongside which we shared the antipasto misto, a beautiful selection of Italian cured meats and grilled vegetables, a platter which won us over with a splendidness of taste and variety.
We followed with exquisite oven baked dishes, the melanzane alla parmigiana in which aubergines were layered with homemade tomato sauce before being topped with mozzarella and parmesan and the ravioli ai ricotta e spinaci, a dish containing a delightful combination of ricotta cheese and spinach parcelled inside pasta before being topped with mozzarella and parmesan, then oven baked. We know, our mouths are watering just typing it…
Enjoying what had already been one of the most delicious meals in Independent Liverpool’s memory, we chose our desserts, which considering the selection of homemade cakes baked by their Italian patisserie chef, was no easy choice. We shared a homemade tiramisu, which we both agreed was the best we’ve had, and an amaretto cake – topped with crushed amaretto biscuits served with cream and strawberries. As we ate, we perused the fascinating collection of photographs on the wall of generations of Crolla and Margiotta family members. The Italian Club creates a family atmosphere and hopes that its customers feel like family too.
We at Independent Liverpool are in agreement – if the Italian Club is a family, it is one which we would happily become members of.